Alan.P.B

Picked mine up on Sunday running on DC no problem, all lights work. Re the loose parts there is no info but, 4 footsteps that go in the holes below driver doors, 4 brake rods ,there are fitting holes on the bogie ends as far as I can see the rods with a bend go on the outer end of the bogies. 

As the writer of a layout in this edition I thought I might comment. It is the first time I have done so. Yes I had a template but that was merely a guide. I chose to do a mix of my thinking about the concept of the layout and the issues around building a layout on my own. In my case in particular using  time saving proprietary items. Given the wide range of readers and their different skill levels it is always going to be difficult to please everybody in each article. I look at articles in magazines to inspire as there are plenty of sources to give specific technical help. For example I didn't cover anything about the electrics and control systems as I think that is better covered by other people in a specific focused article. Anyway just my personal view.